The Chargers, during and after their first season without Eric Weddle, a two-time All-Pro who moved on to the Baltimore Ravens last year, expressed no remorse over the swap at free safety.

Dwight Lowery, although limited in some areas where the speedier Weddle had stood out in seasons prior to 2015, proved a serviceable stand-in.

Lowery earned the praise of several teammates. They described him as sharp dude who was fully invested in getting everyone on the same page.

Weddle-ish, in other words.

Durable as well, Lowery made all 16 starts, making him a Titanium Man of a banged-up defense that was hit particularly hard in the secondary.

If Weddle had the better season with the healthier, stouter Ravens — and I suspect he did -- I have no doubt that Lowery’s 2016 season was equal or better to Weddle’s 2015 season in the same Chargers system.

As a bonus for the Chargers, they saved a bundle of money, although their 5-11 record says the Spanos-Telesco front office didn’t put it to the best use.

Now things are about to get more interesting at safety because the Chargers hold the No. 7 draft pick, and as it happens, a pair of exciting safety prospects could be available in LSUs Jamal Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker.

The 31-year-old Lowery is still under contract, giving the Chargers coverage at safety and also a potential groomsman to either Adams or Hooker.

There are nitpicking arguments against drafting Hooker, starting with that he was Ohio State’s starter for only one season and was more of a basketball player than a footballer until five years ago.

Also, he sat out draft workouts to recover from groin and shoulder surgeries, a topic that former Chargers doctor David Chao has addressed.

There’s also this: Adams is more polished and more accomplished. He shows traits that recall Eric Berry, a fellow SEC alum (Tennessee) who has anchored several secondaries of the Kansas City Chiefs. Since going fifth in the 2010 draft, Berry has earned first-team, All-Pro honors three times.

Adams is the best safety of his draft class, said ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, whom the San Francisco 49ers interviewed for their general manager job this offseason.

That Adams ran a fast 40-yard dash (4.33) this week at LSU’s Pro Day, say Riddick and other draft analysts, was almost piling on considering that Adams had checked off numerous other boxes.

You know who else says Adams is better than Hooker?

Adams does.

“Malik Hooker is a great ball player, man. I don’t take anything away from him,” Adams told USA Today. “But I’m more versatile. I can do everything and that’s the point that people are starting to figure out watching film.”

While Adams is more of a strong safety than a free safety, there’s reason to believe he would fit in with the Chargers for the same reason that end Joey Bosa did when moving from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 design.

Namely, he’s both talented and game-hardened.

However, the chance to nab Hooker ought to excite the Chargers and new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley because of Hooker’s eye-popping film as a center-field pass defender, where he eclipses Adams.

In another era, he’d hold less value due to his spotty record as a run defender.

I still think Hooker a better fit for the Chargers.

The reasons are fear and chess space.

Hooker looks capable of sowing fear — or doubt -- into NFL quarterbacks, a platinum trait in this aerial age.

Hooker has the get-off of an NFL receiver. He exhibits a knack for taking the best path to the pass. His ball skills are excellent.

Comparing Hooker to Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, a former Bradley pupil, is dodgy because Thomas was a far better run supporter and a more polished prospect when he came out of Texas.

However, Thomas was a special center fielder whose range opened up the chessboard for great Seahawks defenses that Bradley coordinated.

As a pass defender, Hooker could allow the Chargers to leverage a pair of standout cornerbacks, Casey Hayward and Jason Verrett.

The learning curve would be steep. Quarterbacking an NFL secondary is Ph.d-level work, and Hooker is raw for a potential first-round draftee. Training alongside the helpful, heady Lowery would speed up the process.

The Chargers would have the makings of pass defense that could dictate terms in the pass-happy NFL.

CAPTION

In the first round of the Super Bowl tournament, the four AFC teams all turned in sloppy or mediocre work.

In the first round of the Super Bowl tournament, the four AFC teams all turned in sloppy or mediocre work.

CAPTION

In the first round of the Super Bowl tournament, the four AFC teams all turned in sloppy or mediocre work.

In the first round of the Super Bowl tournament, the four AFC teams all turned in sloppy or mediocre work.

CAPTION

Not surprisingly, ratings for Chargers telecasts in San Diego declined in the first season following the team moving to Los Angeles, although they were still higher than other NFL games.

Not surprisingly, ratings for Chargers telecasts in San Diego declined in the first season following the team moving to Los Angeles, although they were still higher than other NFL games.

CAPTION

Chargers lose to Jacksonville Jaguars with a late fumble and an interception in overtime.

Chargers lose to Jacksonville Jaguars with a late fumble and an interception in overtime.

CAPTION

In hindsight, was all that relocation talk a distraction for the Chargers and could it be the same for the Raiders, now? Philip Rivers answers that question as well as how he feels about seeing former defensive coordinator John Pagano.

In hindsight, was all that relocation talk a distraction for the Chargers and could it be the same for the Raiders, now? Philip Rivers answers that question as well as how he feels about seeing former defensive coordinator John Pagano.